Update Question

[ProfT]

I just received the notice for the update to 10.4 and installed it. Only after the install, when I went to scan a dissertation chapter, did I realize that the new version had replaced my formats. I use Danzac's SBL format and have made a few changes to it for custom items. I was able to retrieve my formats via Time Machine, but it was a bit disconcerting!

It would be great if there were
a) a warning about formats during an install
or even better
b) a way to keep custom formats when installing a new version.

So, beyond these suggestions, I have two practical questions:

1) Did I miss an option along the way that would have prevented this? I'd love to find out how to prevent this in the future (at least until my dissertation is done) without having to skip updates.

2) Is there any harm in replacing the formats folder with the older copy if the only format I use is the SBL Footnote/Bibliography set?

Thanks!

[Jon]

Hi,

Bookends will not replace any formats in the custom formats folder -- that is where any formats you create (or edit) belong. Bookends will place new formats there automatically. The formats you got from Danny (e.g. the SBL formats) should go there.

Actually, Bookends won't even delete the formats in the Formats folder (in the Bookends 10 folder). If moves them to the Trash. So if you inadvertently have formats you created (or that we don't distribute, like SBL) in the Bookends folder, you can always get them back from the Trash (until you empty it, of course).

Jon
Sonny Software

[ProfT]

Thanks so much! I knew I must have missed something. SBL is in its proper place now so I can get back to writing!

[dheideman]

I have experienced similar problems to what some have noted regarding updates changing custom formats. I have two ways to access ~library~applications support~etc. One way is through my hard drive icon. The other one is through and Icon in "my places" that is labeled with my name. The latter is where Bookends is located. So I tried an experiment: I moved the entire Bookends folder to the 1st route. Then I attempted to delete one item (Turabian-looked like blank paper). This ended up deleting the other custom formats that I had. I went to the trash and removed it, putting it back in its spot. However, now I have another problem. I tried to open Bookends, and apparently it is a shortcut to 11.2.6 and it is asking me for a registration number. I did not do anything and discontinued. I went to one of my libraries and tried to open it, but it gave me the same prompt to enter my registration number. Not sure the best way out of this? I also hesitant to accept any more updates at this point.

[Jon]

I've read your post twice and don't understand it. Please contact tech support directly. If you're being asked for your registration number, it means you deleted Bookends 11 Preferences, or for some reason Bookends can't read it.

Jon
Sonny Software

[ozean]

It seems to me that dheidemann has moved the Bookends preferences/app support folder from the home folder to the root folder. (It seems the reason why was a fear that updating Bookends will delete or change custom formats – which it doesn’t under normal circumstances.) Then somehow the prefs were either deleted or made inaccessible, so that Bookends had to be re-registered. (Because the registration info is stored in Bookends’ preferences file.) Hope this guesswork helps a bit…

[Jon]

Ah, yes, that would be a bad thing. The Bookends folder must be in your user space

~/Library/Application Support/Bookends

If you move it anywhere else, Bookends won't find it. It OS X, it's best to leave files where apps place them. You should *not* have a Bookends folder in your System space.

Jon
Sonny Software